今日のメモ-寝る！-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・But despite the expectations, the fan favorite suddenly stumbled as injuries took their toll.
take its toll : ダメージを与える、大打撃をもたらす

・This mode of thinking is gaining currency not only in Germany and the Netherlands, but all over Europe.
mode of thinking : 思考様式
gain currency : 世間に受け入れられる

・With the rise in gas prices, we can't afford not to.
～しないわけにはいかない

・Taurean is a natural born hedonist, so this week you'll feel like indulging your senses and giving into all sorts of delicious temptations.
hedonist : 快楽主義者
give into : 身を委ねる

・Time for some wonderful solitude as you slip into couch potato mode, watch your favorite old movies, and eat chocolate cake to your heart's content.
怠け者

・It's not your royal right to be Top Cat all the time.
Top Cat : 番長

・Make sure you do your homework so that you are ready, willing and able to push for a pay rise, apply for a promotion or put out feelers for a fabulous new job.
push for ～ : ～を得ようと努める、～を強く求める
put out feelers : 打診する

・This Friday with the Sun and Uranus at odds with each other, you can expect a day of upsets and surprise happenings!
対立して

・You want to go to the beach, but your friends aren't keen, you sigh and are resigned not to go.
あきらめて～しない

・Surfer-dude culture is something that you excel at, so why not embrace it?
-dude : ～族の
excel at ～ : ～に抜きんでる
embrace : 喜んで認める

・Heads I win, tails you lose.
コインが裏でも表でも私の勝ち、不正行為　(^m^*)
（普通は"Heads I win, tails you win." : 表なら私、裏ならあなたの勝ち）

・Recent activity at Kilauea's summit caused HVO scientists to hit the books.
hit the books : 猛勉強する

・We all panicked at first, but the captain got it together and we won the semifinals.
get it together : 上手にやりこなす、しっかりする
cf. "together"には「よくまとまった」「しっかりした」という意味がある

・Lately, however, amid the growing enthusiasm for English learning, not a few Japanese parents are said to be waiting for vacancies in the schools' quotas for Japanese students to open up.
amid (or "as a result of") : ～を受けて

・The movie, directed by Kirsten Sheridan and written by Nick Castle and James V. Hart, pulls out all the stops, invents new ones, and pulls them out too.
最大限の努力をする

・Sixth, in contrast to the energy, optimism, growth, and future orientation of these countries, Japan appears to be passive, pessimistic, stagnant and backward looking, as evidenced by the relative decline in the number of students and amount of funding it has sent in recent years to leading American graduate and professional schools.
～でも分かるように

・Put another way, Japan possesses the power to change the status quo if it wishes to do so.
put another way : 言い換えれば
status quo : 現状

　　　　　　　　　　- from the Mainichi Weekly -

・Mrs. Lonsdale was running some water into the little chipped basin, to the accompaniment of a great groaning and hammering from the pipes.
～を伴って、～に合わせて

・Lyra was too sulky even to ask why she was having to wash and dress, and no grownup ever gave reasons of their own accord.
of one's own accord : 自発的に、自然と、ひとりでに

・"She is by way of being acquainted with Lord Asriel."
by way of doing : ～している状態で、～といったようなもので、～として知られて

・He smiled so rarely that he was out of practice, and anyone watching (Lyra wasn't in a state to notice) would have said it was a grimace of sadness.
腕がなまっている、下手で

・She did sleep, finally, though Pantalaimon wouldn't settle until she snapped at him, when he became a hedgehog out of pique.
腹立ち紛れに

・"Keep your own counsel."
自分の考えを胸に秘めておく（counsel : 考え、慎重な計画、忠告、助言）

・And now she was on her way to London: sitting next to the window in a zeppelin, no less, with Pantalaimon's sharp little ermine paws digging into her thigh while his front paws rested against the glass he gazed through.
それでもなお、やはり、（まさに、確かに）

・"Calves' liver is all right," Mrs. Coulter told her, "and so is seal liver, but if you're stuck for food in the Arctic, you mustn't eat bear liver."
～に困る、窮している

・Or else a Scholar would forget what he was supposed to teach her, and drill her at great length about the subject of his current research, whatever that happened to be.
drill : ～に繰り返し教え込む
at great length : 長々と、くどくどと、詳細に

　　　　　　　　　　- from The Golden Compass (US) -

When turning on the TV this morning, I was terribly shocked to know the news that the indiscriminant killing had occurred in Akihabara.
I didn't know about it at all until watching the TV.
How could he kill so many people without any particular reason?
However could those who happened to be there take photos at the very place where innocent people had just been killed or injured?

I can't find any words to express my feeling about it.
Too terrible to believe it really happened.

信じられないような事件に、まだ騒然とする事件現場でカメラを向ける人達・・・
おかしすぎる・・・。
私もおかしいのかしら？
とりあえず寝不足みたい。
ちょっとだけ寝よう。　ちょっとだけ・・・ね。…(__).。oＯ

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今日のメモ-ショック！-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・So she has set her sights on winning new fans abroad, starting with Japan.
～を目指す

・"I fell in love with Japan the first time I came here ― absolutely fell in love with it. I would live here in a heartbeat," she says.  "I think I must have been Japanese in another lifetime."
in a heartbeat : すぐに
in another lifetime : 前世で

・Hu and Fukuda, hoping to underscore the positive during his five-day stay, were to use ping-pong and pandas to take the edge off more contentious problems.
和らげる

・A spate of suicide by people mixing chemicals to create deadly hydrogen sulfide gas has occurred across Japan, while family members and residents have also fallen victim by inadvertently inhaling the gas.
相次ぐ

・Inhaling by hydrogen sulfide several times at a concentration of between 800 and 1,000 parts per million causes instant death.
百万分の（=ppm）

・Former world's No. 4 Date Kimiko was beaten in the final of the Kangaroo Cup International Ladies Open on May 4, taking some of the shine off her surprise return to professional tennis.
～から輝きを奪う

・Yet as a five-year cancer survivor, Goodrem has become an inspiration to an entire generation of Australians and enthusiastically taken on the role of advocate for a range of causes.
take on the role of ～ : ～の役割を引き受ける
a range of causes : 様々な主義、運動

・"Next time he goes to prison, he's going to stay there until his time is finished."
刑期を完全に終えるまで

・People with safes full of money were glad to hear that Ben Price was at work trying to catch Mr. Valentine.
～の逮捕に乗り出す

・Someone who "wouldn't hurt (or harm) a fly" is gentle and inoffensive.  It is often used in defense of someone.
cf. butter would not melt in one's mouth

・There are many situations where it would be convenient if you could be a "fly on the wall." This means to watch and listen to others without being noticed.

・The spider's web is often used to describe complicated situations where many people are involved.  For example, "After much questioning about the politician's funds, it was revealed that the tangled web of those involved included the heads of large corporations."

・She worked as a translator for the US government to make ends meet.
収支内でやりくりする、収支を合わせる

・"To tell the truth, a week ago I bought SS Company's shares on margin, and they rose as much as 50 percent, and I sold them off at their peak.  I made a killing on them."  "Good for you.  I bought Happy & Company's shares, but I eventually took a bath on them. I wish I were in your shoes."
on margin : 信用取引で
make a killing (on ～) : （～で）大もうけをする
take a bath (on ～) : （～で）大損をする
I wish I were in your shoes : うらやましい

・He began performing annually: Godspell, West Side Story and Two Gentlemen of Verona to name a few, and always the leading role.
幾つか例を挙げると

・You're buzzing with entrepreneurial spirit and have the "get up and go" to make it happen.
buzz with ～ : ～に溢れる
get up and go : 積極性

・Less than half of eligible people will have placed their X on the voting slip on May, according to estimates.  That is despite Ken Livingstone, the only mayor London has had, running neck and neck with challenger Boris Jphnson.
～と互角に戦う

・Johnson's moniker is down to his hair and combative style of speech.
～による

・First Livingstone was suspended for four weeks because he likened a Jewish reporter on the London Evening Standard to a Nazi concentration camp guard.
liken ～ to ... : ～を...に例える
concentration camp guard : 強制収容所の見張り

・Johnsonis a colourful character, but is best known for putting his foot in it.
失言する、ドジを踏む

・This week is the time to walk your talk as you commit yourself to a relationship.
walk one's talk : 有言実行する
commit oneself to : ～に身をゆだねる、打ち込む、専心する

　　　　　　　　　　- from the Mainichi Weekly -

・'I've had people try to put one over on me many times, and let me tell you, gentlemen, few people succeed."
～をだます、かつぐ

・'But it is out of respect for your views, Mr Lewis, that I feel one should not simply cast them to one side as though they were uttered by some soapbox eccentric.'
～に敬意を表して

・'As it happens, sir, a doctor is on his way.'
たまたま、折り合いよく、あいにく

・Such are, of course, precisely the values embodied in the Hayes Society's idea of a 'distinguished household', and the fact that it was confidently making such pronouncements as late as 1929 shows clearly why the demise of that society was inevitable, if not long overdue.  For by that time, such thinking was quite out of step with that of the finest men emerging to the forefront of our profession.
long overdue : ずっと前に始まっている、（支払期限がとっくに過ぎている、待望の）
（cf. although long overdue : 遅きに失したとはいえ）
out of step : 時代遅れで、調和しないで

・This was opened by a man dressed in his shirt sleeves, wearing no tie, but who, upon my asking for the chauffeur of the house, replied cheerfully that I had 'hit the jackpot first time'.
大当たりをとる、大成功する

・'You'll kick yourself for missing it.'
～のために後悔する、～したことで（自分を）責める

　　　　　　　　　　- from The Remains of the Day (UK) -

I was shocked to hear the news that my dearest Southern All Stars announced their indefinite break from their musical activities despite my having expected that in advance.
The shock was more than I expected.
It was like feeling a huge void in my heart.
I think now, however, I'll never make an end of being a fan of them, and I'm going to look forward to their coming back smiling and vigorously waving to us.
Needless to say, it's after the 30th anniversary live supposed to be held in this August at Nissan Studium in Yokohama is over that I look forward to it.
Yes, I love Southern All Stars as much as Keisuke Kuwata.  :)

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今日のメモ-東スポの存在意義-

☆　今日のメモ　☆

・These "3R's" (reduce, reuse and recycle) have been incorporated into the "3R Initiative," agreed upon at the G8 Sea Island Summit in June 2004 as a new G8 initiative to promote global sustainability.
～に組み込まれる

・First, the leaders of the two largest G8 counties, the United States and Japan, are seen as lame ducks and therefore lacking the political muscle to push through any major new initiatives on environmental or other issues.
lame duck : 死に体
political muscle : 政治的影響力

・"Make a man of yourself."
一人前の男になる

・If you "get a kick out of" something, it means that you find it funny or entertaining.  It can also mean that you think it's fun.

・When someone says that "get their kicks from" something, it means that they find it thrilling or exciting.  To do something "for kicks" has a similar meaning.

・To have a "leg up" means to have an advantage because someone gives you help or money.

・It is very smart, very funny and very touching; it begins with the pacing of screwball comedy and ends as a portrait of characters we come to love.
screwball comedy : （変わり者が主人公の）軽快なテンポの喜劇映画
portrait of ～ : ～の描写

・But don't let my praise get in the way of sharing how much fun this movie is.
～の妨げになる

・It is so very rare to sit with an audience that leans forward with delight and is in step with every turn and surprise of an uncommonly intelligent screenplay.
in step with ～ : ～に同調して
turn : 展開
uncommonly intelligent screenplay : 非常に気の利いたシナリオ

・Of course, she gets pregnant, and after a trip to an abortion clinic that leaves her cold, she decides to have the child.
～を失望させる

　　　　　　　　　　- from the Mainichi Weekly -

・He seated himself at his desk and, as usual, resorted to holding open a book ― this time it was Who's Who ― turning a page to and fro.
前後に、行きつ戻りつ、あちらこちらに

・'The facts of life, Stevens.  Birds, bees.'
cf. the birds and the bees : 性教育での初歩的知識

・'Let me put my cards on the tables, Stevens.'
手の内を見せる、持ち札をテーブルの上に出す

・'Sir David should know that, but he's asked me none the less.'
それにも関わらず

・'Would you mind coming to the point?'
本題に入る、要点に触れる、単刀直入に話す

　　　　　　　　　　- from The Remains of the Day (UK) -

On Monday there was a small event which I think allowed me to get confident in myself somehow, and front-page news of Tokyo Sports I have no idea how I should describe. (^^;
According to the article, it's probable that Southern All Stars, my most favorite band, will suspend their musical activities from next year, and the prospect of their resuming the musical career doesn't look good.
I saw, and I can see even now, a lot of fans' messages representing their anxiety or confusion written in on every kind of BBS, to my surprise, or maybe I should write "naturally," except for the official BBS of the band.
I'm sorry to say this, but I think I know well how to read Tokyo Sports, and I don't care at all which way they choose to go, if they've decided it after deliberation.
If the news should be true, however, I'd like to say "It's disappointing that Tokyo Sports ruined the peculiar existence value of their own, which no other newspaper seems to want, for a piece of big news. I thought it was not "accuracy" but "ideda" that Tokyo Sports had always sought."

月曜日の東スポの一面が『サザンオールスターズ、来年から活動休止』だったようです。
『活動休止』って、今までもしょっちゅう活動休んでましたけど・・・。~(=^‥^A
解散に限りなく近い活動休止ってことなのかしら？
どちらにしろ、東スポの読み方ぐらいは心得ているつもり。

東スポは楽しみむ物であって、情報を得るために読む物じゃありません♪

・・・私の人生でただの一度も東スポを買ったことなどないので、単なる勝手な決めつけです。あしからず。
仮に事実だったとしても、メンバー同士がよく話し合った結果なら、個人的には全く問題なかったりなんかして。
でも万が一、これが東スポの正真正銘のスクープだったとしたら一言いいたい。
『東スポは記事の『正確さ』よりも『アイディア』で勝負してきたんじゃないの？　
たった一つのスクープのために、長年かけて築いてきた他の追随を許さない、というか他も追随したくないと思われる、その独特の存在意義を台無しにするようなことされちゃったらガッカリよん。』

・・・だから、あくまで個人的な意見ですってば。(^m^*)

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複雑怪奇なり

As the day goes on, it seems to have become more and more comfortable and pleasant for us to do anything, like walking, driving, washing, and airing out futons.
The things disturbing my English learning and luring me out are everywhere.
Who can blame me for neglecting my English learning under this circumstances?
I'm a genius in finding excuses.  (--;

Oh, and have the Golden Week holidays already started?
I can't believe it!
Almost all of my friends, some of whom often enjoyed their Golden Week holidays traveling abroad or somewhere in Japan, seem to have no special plan for this year's scattered holidays as well as me.
Do you have anything special to do in these holidays?
Whether or not you have, please enjoy your holidays with someone very special to you.  (^^)

By the way, I'm writing this diary watching the torch relay for the Beijing Olympics running through Nagano right now on TV.
I hear it was Nazi Germany that began the Olympics torch relay at the Berlin Olympics in 1936, and that they took over Pohland in only a week soon after that, in 1939, which was the beginning of World War II.
Why could they occupy Pohland that quickly?
It was thanks to the torch relay they began.
They checked all the roads running through Europe before the Berlin Olympics, saying it was for the sake of the Olympics.
I regret to say the Olympics torch relay seems to have been exploited for political purposes since the start of it.

聖火のリレーなんだか、警備のリレーなんだか、はたまた抗議のリレーなんだか、すっかり何がなんだかわからなくなってきた感のある聖火リレーが長野で行われている真っ最中ではありますが、皆さんはゴールデンウィーク第１日目をいかがお過ごしでしょうか。
私は英語の勉強に勤しむ予定ではありましたが、言い訳を見つける天才と化しております。 ~(=^‥^A
数日前の雨空が嘘のように晴れ渡り、暑くも寒くもない爽やかな風が吹き抜けるこの休日を、どうしたら家にこもってすごせるというの？
う～～ん、飛べるものなら空を飛び回ってみたいぐらいの快晴だわ・・・♡

で、再び聖火リレー。
聖火リレーって、ナチスドイツがベルリンオリンピックの際に始めたのが最初なんだそうです。
聖火リレーを行うに当たって、ヨーロッパ全土の道路事情を調べ尽くし、その数年後にはポーランドをわずか１週間で占領し、第２次世界大戦が始まったわけですね・・・。
聖火リレーが政治に利用されているのは、今に限ったことではないようですね。
なんか情けないというか、悲しいというか、虚しいというか・・・。
複雑怪奇なり。＞オリンピック
もっとシンプルなのがいいわ。

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SHAME！

As I wrote in the other day's entries, Takashi Omori, a former member of Souther All Stars, announced his willingness to want to play on the band's 30th anniversary event, which is supposed to be held this year, on his blog on March 21st, despite his being still on probation for possession of illegal drugs ― marijuana and a large amount of stimulant drugs.
At that point I thought my resentment and disbelief at him had gone far beyond the bounds, and that I couldn't feel more anger towards him than I did at that time, but apparently I was wrong.

Flash Exciting, the magazine which carries an interview written about his bald.., oh, sorry, BOLD wish to get back in the band, hit bookstores yesterday.
This is the last straw for me...
I guess you can't stand to read it as I can't.
It's big surprise that he was able to tell such absurd things in it as though he hadn't committed any crime in his past.
Doesn't he have any efficient staff who can give him advice about what to do, or friends or fans who sincerely tell him off?
PATHETIC!!

The only consolation to me of what's written on this filthy article is that Keisuke Kuwata, according to what Omori said in this interview, hasn't answered his phone call, and that Omori hasn't got any offer for the event from Southern All Stars' talent agency: Amuse Inc.
It's natural!
That's just what I think Keisuke Kuwata I love should do.

ふっ。　『見下げ果てる』とはこのことかしら？
『もう彼のことで一喜一憂、もとい、一“怒”一憂するのには疲れたわ』と、思うことにも疲れたわ！！
馬鹿な行為をしてしまうことは誰にだってあるので、その行為の反省と償いは求めても、人間性まで云々したりはしません。
でも、ここまでくると、もはや人間性の問題なんじゃ・・・？
そう思う私って性格悪い？　ねぇ、最低？

女性にとっては触れるのも嫌な雑誌なので、ネット上での情報ででしか確認できませんが、非道すぎる！
とりあえず、“彼”の恥知らずなブログはこちら。
覚醒剤と大麻で起訴され、執行猶予中の身でありながら、謝罪もなくこの発言。
ブログだけならまだしも、あの雑誌発売ときたらもう、リンクしちゃる。
SHAME ON YOU!!　

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情けない・・・

What do you think Takashi Omori , who, according to what Keisuke Kuwata said on his radio program and what he reportedly said himself, has decided to leave Southern All Stars of his own free will and accord, and who's been sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment with four years suspension of sentence for illegal drugs possession and use, wrote in his blog that he would like to play for his fans in the Southern All Stars' 30th anniversary live supposed to be held this year because there was no reason his appearance in the event was not to be allowed, despite the fact he IS still on probation?
"There is no reason"?
How could he write such a thing on the Net?
It's outrageous!  I can't believe what he wrote! 
I doubt he has enough sense to understand the situation he's in now.

He possessed and used not only marijuana but large amounts of stimulant drug when he was arrested.
I know some people say there is nothing wrong with smoking marijuana because it's free of side-effect and nonaddictive, and I can't deny it's safe to human health beause of my lack of my knowledge about it, but where does the money that's paid for it come from and go, and what is the money used for?
At least in today's Japan, where these drugs are prohibited by law, it's obviously unlikely the money is used for the sake of the public welfare.

Though I also know there are such questions as "If those people who were arrested, and finished their sentences or are on probation, have to be blamed for their past mistakes, how can they work?" I must say that's just the punishment the person must receive in the real community.
The important thing is I think to continue their struggles to retrieve their own social lives, helped by their company and supporters, isn't it?

Anyway, the most shocking thing to me is the fact that there are those who can shamelessly write in on the Net as if they show off their criminal acts and egg people on to try it.
Hopeless idiots, they are.

寝坊はするは、朝一で怒りを通り越して呆れるしかないような発言の数々を目にするはでしばらく日記をサボってしまいました。~(=^‥^A
所詮、人の考えていることなどわかるわけないので、推測だけで批判するのもいけないのかもしれませんが、某巨大掲示板ならともかく、ネット上で恥ずかしげもなく薬物を容認するかのような発言をする人がいたことには本当に驚いた。
覚醒剤はもちろん、大麻などに支払われたお金はどこに行って、何のために使われているのか考えもしないんでしょうか。
周囲の人間や制度のせいにして自分を正当化することしかできないなんて情けない。

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ガソリン値下げ☆

Today is the last day of the three-day holiday with the first comfortable weather in a while.
The sky is completely covered with clouds which protect us from the flaming sun, and a little cooler air is surrounding us.
It's a perfect day to enjoy going out with friends, family or your loved one.
However for some people, it can be also the best day to read a book, listen to your favorite music or learn something.
Some people..., needless to say, one of them is me.
My plan of going out for today is only to get out for lunch to a nearby restaurant with my SO like a usual holiday.
It's my favorite cafe which serves delicious, hearty salad, pizza, pasta and so on.
Because I don't usually have dinner, it's essential for me to eat enough lunch chatting with someone important for me sometimes.

Hmm..., although it has been about six months since I started to write this blog, I still can't help feeling there are lots of something wrong or strange in my sentences.
And probably..., no, it's absolutely right.
While reading "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" listening to the audiobook, I sometimes feel as if even I can freely write anything I want to in English.
I wonder if the day will really come when I become able to do such dreamlike things.

ハリ・ポタや毎日ウィークリーなんかを読んでいると、『こう書けばいいんだ』 と思う瞬間が結構あるんですが、実際に自分で書くとなると、思ったようにいかないのは何故でしょうね。
何故も何も、読書量も知識も全く足りてないからだとわかってはいますが、日記を書く度にもどかしくなってしまいます。(T_T)

話は全く変わりますが、来年４月、ガソリン料金が半額になるかもしれないってご存じですか？
しかも５月にはもとの価格に戻るだろうから、４月にガソリンの買いだめ（！）が起こるかもしれないそうです。
ガソリン料金を倍に押し上げている特措法が2008年３月に期限切れになるからで、この調子で国会が運営されると、民主党の出方次第によっては十分に起こりうる事なんだとか。（テレビ情報）

半額になるのは結構な事だけど、その分、他にしわ寄せが来たり、騒動が起きるのは勘弁して欲しい。

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さすが？ まさか？

I wrote on this blog yesterday what article is on the front page of this week's issue of the Mainichi Weekly.
Because it's soon after former Prime Minister Abe's resignation, and tomorrow is the day of the LDP presidential election, it's natural I was interested in the front page article of it, isn't it?
However, when I checked it which arrived yesterday evening, what article do you think I saw on it?
It's an article about a media event featuring Freddie Highmore and a Japanese famous comedy duo: Taka and Toshi!
The article about Abe is only devoted not more than one quarter space in the second page of it.
That might be just what I expected of it in a sense.
I'm definitely going to renew my subscription.

まさか今週号の一面記事がタカ・アンド・トシと Freddie Highmore の会見についてだとは思いませんでした。
さすがは毎日ウィークリー。
ニュースよりも、海外の俳優やアーティスト、スポーツ、観光、面白現地情報がメインです。
（政治関連の眠たくなるニュースやエッセイ（？）もそれなりにありますが・・・）
先日、継続購読を勧めるメールも送られてきちゃったし、忘れないうちに継続手続きしようっと♪ =＾-＾=

さて。 とりあえず今日は毎日ウィークリーを読んで、ハリ・ポタは・・・読めるかな？
ハリ・ポタ、ただ今ヤットコ10章にさしかかったところです。
何せ、オーディオブックを聴きながら、１つの章を一通り読もうと思っただけで30分以上。
何度か繰り返して聞こうと思ったら、それだけで・・・・！！！
９月中に読み終えるのは絶対無理！ ~(=^‥^A

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ギャグ？

I feel it's getting a little cooler like autumn days, at least early in the morning.
Although the sky is hazy blue as if being covered in a white translucent veil, and is like that of midsummer, the morning breeze is comfortable and cool enough to make me feel the coming of autumn.
Once going out of the house, however, we're exposed to the burning sunlight at once.
I couldn't help feeling on my way home from the hospital yesterday as if it was entirely useless to put on sunscreen under the sun like this.
I feel like the heat I got yesterday still remains in my body, though I guess it's because of my slight fever.

This week's issue of the Mainichi Weekly hasn't arrived yet.
What ariticle is on the fron page?
Is it about the former Prime mister Abe's surprising resignation?
The LDP presidential election?  Or, something else?
Mr. Fukuda seems to want to deny the reputation for his candidacy being regarded as the resurgence of factional politics.
I'm sorry to say this, but it might be a proof of your aging that you're accustomed to the old system so much that you can't accept the obvious fact.

福田さんが総理大臣になったら、福田 VS 小沢 ですか・・・。
【自民 VS 自民】 にしか見えないんですけど。 ~(=^‥^A
国民が何が何だかわからないうちに首相が突然辞任して、あっけにとられている間に、自民党のお爺さん達の間では次期首相が決まっている。
まだ総裁選前だというのに、福田さんの首相就任も、福田さんを推した人のポストも決まっているようで、某所では 『おめでとうございます』 のかけ声が飛び交っているらしい。
で、『派閥政治の復活ではない』って？
最近のお笑いは質が落ちたんじゃないかと思っている私ですが、それでもここまで笑えないギャグは言わないぞ。

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泥船の航路

Yesterday, watching TV around noon, I was terribly surprised to see the sudden news which announced Prime Minister Abe would step down, probably as well as everyone else in Japan.
Although I have nothing to mention it any more, let me tell just one more thing.

How will the abduction issue turn out?

As I wrote on another blog on February 14, 2007 when the six-party talks was being held in Beijing that I still expected Prime Minister Abe would resolve the abduction issue even if he and his cabinet had various problems, I think one of the most expected things for the public is the settlement or any progress of the abduction issue, not the continuation of the Japanese Self Defense Forces' participation in the war in Afghanistan let alone the constitutional amendment.
I can't help worrying about where Japan is going.

Er..., my eyes were being fixed on TV news programs ever since the announcement, so I hardly read anything of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" yesterday.
No, I know it's nothing but my fault.
I'm not qualified to criticize somebody else's behavior, am I? (--;

あらら。　入院しちゃいましたね。＞安倍さん
『かわいそう』 という声もチラホラあるようですが、一般企業の課長さんじゃあるまいし、いかなる逆境も乗り越えるタフさと、あらゆる困難を克服する能力が求められるポストじゃないの？
参院選の後に辞任しなかったのも驚きだけど、せめて、結果はどうあれ、挑み続けるだけのタフさは見せてくれるかと思ったのに。
まぁ、当初期待してた拉致問題や改革の歪みの是正は最近ではすっかり影を潜め、安倍さんの口から出るのは国民の大多数が望んでもいないようなテロ特措法の延長ばかり。
国際貢献のためじゃなくて、アメリカのための特措法延期じゃないの？ と言いたくなるのは私だけじゃあるまい。
一番の問題は、総理大臣にふさわしい人がまるで見あたらないことかもしれない。
アニメ関連の株が上がっただけじゃね・・・・。 (--;
かといって小沢さんに期待できるわけでもなし。 (--;
人の事をとやかく言う資格なんてありませんが、この国がどうなるのか不安だわ・・・。

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Last Samurai ＆ etc

The Japan Meteorological Agency said last Friday it would become a little cooler from that day.
In Osaka, however, the intolerable heat has lasted as before.
Although on summer days we Japanese often use phrases like "shinisou": this heat is killing me, we can't use them as some kind of metaphor or joke on these scorching summer days because many people have died of heat stroke.
Are you all right?
Please take care of yourself not to get heat stroke.

I watched "Last Samurai" recorded on Friday yesterday.
This movie has some points about which I can't help feeling something strange as Japanese.
I guess, however, this fact doesn't affect its high reputation.
And, I felt Samurai was depicted as a symbol of Japanese good old days and one of the coolest ways to live to which men are attracted.
Although I'm not into bang 'em up films, as one of Japanese, I like it.  (^m^*)
Also, Ken Watanabe is a really great actor, isn't he?
He who acted in "Last Samurai" didn't seem to be the same person in "Ashita no Kioku".
And, I'm sure all the other actors (including an actress Koyuki) also deserve praise.

By the way, as there is "Bushi-dou" in Samurai, I think there is "Sumo-dou" in "Sumo".
I wonder whether a Yokozuna without enough awareness as a professional sumo wrestler deserves to remain a sumo wrestler. (--;

日本語と英語が混在している映画って、見てると時々混乱しちゃいます。
トム・クルーズが渡辺健に 『誰に狙われているんだ？』 というようなことを言うシーン。
"so more?" って言ってるのかと思ったら、『大村？』 って言ってたんですね。
最初、意味がわからなくて、慌てて音声を切り替えて確認してしまいました。
まぁ、そんな間違いするのは私くらいなものでしょうが・・・。~(=^‥^A
『（あなたは）考えすぎです』 というセリフが英語では "Too many mind." となっていて、思わず納得。
日本的な言い回しがどんな風に英訳されるのかって、英語Onlyの外国映画だとあまり意識しないので、そういう意味でも面白かったです。
『結びの句が決まらない』 とかね。
それに、こうして英語と日本語を同時に意識しながら映画を見ていると、改めて日本語の美しさに感動☆ =＾-＾=
古事記とか風姿花伝、枕草子、俳句、etc...　古文大好き人間なんです。σ(^_^；
　　注 ： 『古文が好き＝古文ができる』は成り立ちません。
　　そは 『英語が好き＝英語ができる』 が成り立たぬが如し。 (^m^*)
『武士道とは死ぬこととみつけたり』 ( "How I die" ? ) な日本に対して、やっぱりアメリカは 『生き抜いてこそ』 ( or, "How I live" ? ) なのかなと思ってしまうラストではありました。
（ちなみに私も 『死に様』 より 『生き様』派。 というより、そもそもドンパチ反対派）

それと、話は変わりますが、某横綱！
例えば、スランプ中の力士や選手を批判することは個人的に好きではないのですが、巡業 （であってる？） って仕事の一環でしょ？
サラリーマンが大事な仕事をさぼってサッカーしてたら、批判されて当然でしょ？
故国を大切に思う気持ちと、力士として恥ずかしくない行動を心掛ける事は決して矛盾しないと思うんだけど・・・。
おまけに厳しい練習にも耐えて、心身共に鍛えられてきたはずの力士が、怒られて深刻な急性ストレス障害？
『情けないな～』と思ってしまう私が心の狭い人間なのかしらん。

あ。もう一つ。
某・元有名サッカー選手が、『彼が俺とサッカーをした事で責められているのが残念』 というようなことを言ったか書いたかしたって本当ですか？
だとしての話ですが・・・・、今回、彼が責められているのは、巡業を怪我を理由に休んでいながら、走り回ってサッカーをしていたからであって、そのメンバーに誰が入っていようと、それは問題ではありませんよ～。
あしからず☆ m(__)m

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参院選と赤い靴

The Upper House elections having been the center of media's attention in many senses ended up with the historic defeat of the LDP as many had predicted.
What do you think about this result?
I have some questions or worries.
What will become of the Article 9 and the consumption-tax hike?
Why did Prime Minister Abe express his shameless intention not to resign in spite of this terrible result?
I think every Mr. Abe's personnel selection is awful.
And I hope the DPJ, especially DPJ chief Ozawa, doesn't get carried away by this victory.
Mr. Ozawa seems to me to be only a former power-broker of the LDP and to be like a member of the LDP more than Prime Minister Abe.
What will become of the future of Japan?  (--;

Oh, one more question.
Why could Tamayo Marukawa win a seat?
On a special program featuring this elections I watched, she was compared to the heroine in "The Red Shoes" written by Andersen because she had worn red shoes during this election campaign.
Anyway, she was elected, so I hope she will do her best for Japan and the people who voted for her.

One of my friends suddenly came to my home in this morning without letting me know in advance.
I enjoyed her visiting, but I'm so tired...
So, that's all for today.  (^^;

う～ん・・・、ちょっと頑張って政治ネタも書いてみよう♪ と思って、昨日・今日と選挙について書いてみましたが、日本語でもまともなことが書けない人間は、英語でもやっぱりヒドイですね。
『赤い靴』 のくだりも、もうちょっと書きたかったんだけど、突然の友人の来襲により断念。
不思議な赤い靴を履いたために、脱ぐこともできず、泣きながら来る日も来る日も踊り続けることになった少女のお話です。
ちょっと疲れちゃいましたが、彼女が持ってきてくれたお弁当が絶品♪
ごちそうさまでした♪　(^m^*)

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Imagine

Today is finally the day of the Upper House elections.
Have you already voted or decided who you're going to vote for?
Me?  Not yet...  (--;
I have no intention of supporting the Abe administration any more, but I also don't know who or which party to vote for.
The DPJ seems to me to be too unreliable and only a jumble of former LDP members and many others.
The SDP is so hysterical that I doubt that they can make cool judgments. (Is this a prejudice?)
Then, should I vote for the LDP?
...... (--;
I've read a striking article in the Mainichi Weekly or something.
It said that, "the problem is not whether Japan should revise the Constitution but that any other country doesn't have the peace Constitution like Japan."
I think that's true, but I also think that's only an idealistic and unrealistic theory.
That's just a too beautiful dream everyone can't help hoping for.
But, therefore, I believe Japan should keep and be proud of it (even if Japan is the only one that has it).
And I hope every country will declare it someday.
Well, I might be a dreamer, but I and almost all of us know a wonderful song.

You may say I'm a dreamer
but I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
and the world will be as one      "Imagine" John Lennon

Hmm..., I might be kind of sentimental today.  (--;

Today is also the day of "FNS 27-hour TV", isn't it?
I probably won't watch it, though.  (^^;

興味ない人も大勢いるかとは思いますが、せめて今日くらいは 【より良い未来】 なんてものを 'imagine' してみるのもいいんじゃないかなと思ったりもするわけです。
単なる夢にすぎなくても、理想論にすぎなくても、夢も見れなきゃ寂しいし、政治家が理想を語らなくなったらお終いだと思うから。
しかしまぁ、選挙日がずれちゃったもんだから、各局大変そう。
特に27時間TVとかぶっちゃったフジテレビ。
選挙結果だけじゃなく、今晩の視聴率もある意味見物じゃない？　（＾＾；

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ごっこ遊び

I joined three communities which are for English learners on mixi yesterday.
To tell the truth, I've already taken part in other two English-related communities.
One is pretty good for me, however, the other seems to me as if some of members just enjoy playing a vulgar make-believe English conversation.
Besides, others never so much as do anything - writing without fear of failure and correcting someone else's mistakes.
So, I consider this is worth nothing to me.
I think , however, it might be thanks to me that one person could improve his English skill. (^m^*)
Well, I don't know whether he's written his postings by himself or with the help of someone else, though.
Anyway, I can't understand the meaning of "drinking the color kind of wine" and imagine "a whole octopus with its head and its all eight legs in Takoyaki".
He said to me please it imagine (I don't know why there is "it".), but his English is always beyond the limit of my imagination!
His serious writing can make me laugh more than his joke.

Speaking of vulgar make-believe play, I think TV is terribly filled with this.
The apologies of the politicians, flyer distribution by Social Insurance Agency officials, the news conference of representative director, chairman and CEO of The Goodwill Group, Inc, etc...
Every act of them is too foolish to even make me laugh.

p.s.
Mr. f**l seems to be in tip-top shape today, too.
Although I don't know why he sticks to Disney like that (probably he might misunderstand the meaning of "next") ...I think he is the best comedian for me.

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Paris & Sarkozy & Agatha Christie

This week's Mainichi Weekly is NOT so good to me.
Because the feature article which I've looked forward to which introduces some dialogue of films or dramas is about 'Simple Life' in which Paris Hilton appeared.
One of her dialogue is "I'm going to puke."
Yuck! I hate her. she seems to be just a pretty face and rich. She's like a empty-headed Barbie Doll.
(Well, I don't know what she is really like at all, and I know some men say that's just the point, though.)
And this week's front page is about Nicolas Sarkozy, who is a new president of France.
I think he may certainly have his own firm belief and the strength to stick to it.
However, I also think a leader should have an ability to listen to other's opinions too.
Is he OK?

今週の毎日ウィークリーはイマイチ。
楽しみにしている映画やドラマの台詞を紹介する特集記事が、パリス・ヒルトン出演の『シンプル・ライフ』だから。
彼女の台詞の一つが『マジ吐きそう』。
キモ！　パリスって嫌いです。 可愛いだけの金持ちにしか見えない。 まるで中身のないバービーちゃん。
（まぁ、実際の彼女はどうなのか全く知らないし、それが重要なんだという男がいることも知ってるけどね。）
それに今週の一面記事は新しいフランス大統領ニコラス・サルコジについて。
彼は確かに彼なりの確固たる信念も、それを貫く強さもあると思うけど、
リーダーは他人の意見にも耳を傾ける能力が必要だとも思うわけです。
彼は大丈夫？

However, I'm gonna get hooked on Agatha Christie's serial novel.
I guess this novel is rewrited at an easier level for beginners.
It's easy to read and interesting!
I feel closer to English in reading novels than news articles.
I wanna read more novels, but I wonder if it's hard for me to read it without Japanese explanations.

でもアガサ・クリスティーの連載小説にはハマリそう。
この小説は初心者でも読みやすいように書き直されているのかな？
読みやすいし面白い♪
ニュースを読むより小説を読む時の方が英語を身近に感じます。
もっと小説を読みたいけど、日本語の解説なしで読めるかどうか・・・~(=^‥^A

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鏡が映す嘘

Today's diary, hmm..., what should I write on?
I've written about only English reading material recently.
So, today, I'm going to mention one topic aired on Kansai local television the other day.

今日の日記、う～～ん・・・、何を書きましょうか？
最近は英語の読み物のことばかり書いてきたので、
今日は、先日、関西ローカルで放送されたある話題についてふれてみます。

Have you ever thought that you seem to have lost weight or that this clothes makes me look slimmer in trying anything on?
I have.
According to the TV program, one mirror manufacturer said that they produce and sell some kinds of mirror which make you look slimmer from 5 to 15 % than you are to some shops such as boutiques, beauty parlors and fitness clubs.
And in fact, the very mirror which makes you look 15 % slimmer was introduced on the program.
This news was a little shocking to me.
Although the manufacturer said that shop owners seemed to feel guilty, but the pleasure of seeing customers' happy faces seemed to be much more than it.
'The pleasure of seeing customers' happy faces'?
It's ,to be precise, 'the pleasure of having sold their wares,' isn't it?
Be careful not to be cheated.

あなたは何かを試着している時に、『痩せたみたい』とか『この服は痩せて見える』と思った経験がありますか？
私はあります。
その番組によると、ある鏡製造会社が５～15％痩せて見える数種類の鏡を、ブティックや美容室、フィットネスクラブなどに製造・販売していると言ったそうです。
そして実際に、まさにその15％痩せて見える鏡が番組で紹介されました。
このニュースはちょっとショック。
製造会社は、店主も罪悪感は感じているようですが、お客様の嬉しそうな顔を見る喜びの方が大きいようですと言っていましたが・・・。
『お客様の嬉しそうな顔を見る喜び』？
正確には『自分たちの商品が売れた喜び』じゃないの？
騙されないように気を付けましょう。

私の英語力では詳しく書けないのが残念ですが（もう既に限界をはるかに超えてるし）、スタジオで15％痩せて見える鏡と普通の鏡とで比較してみたところ、若干、不自然な感じはあるものの、痩せて見える方の鏡だけだったら思いっきり騙されちゃうかも・・・という感じでした。
そういえば、試着してみた時に『このパンツ、脚がスラッと見える～♪』と浮かれまくって買ってはみたものの、家に帰って着てみるとそうでもない、ということがあったっけ。
『角度の問題かな？　やっぱり下ナメで・・・』なんて無駄なアガキをしたことも。
やっぱりソレがアレだったんでしょうか？（アレがソレ？）
フットネスクラブにもってことは、トライアルで来ている客が『おぉ！ ちょっとシマッた♪』なんて思って、入会しちゃったりするんでしょうか？
『お客様の喜ぶ顔』っていっても、その喜びは偽りの姿によってつくられたものでしょ。
かる～～い詐欺よ、詐欺。
いっそ世の中の鏡が全部15％割引鏡になれば、ある意味幸せ？

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A letter from Iraq

The other day, I read an article written about the letter one young solider wrote to his family on mixi.
He went off to Iraq and was killed by a suicide bomb attack at the age of only 19.
The following descriptions are excerpts from the original.

先日 mixi で、ある若い兵士が家族に宛てた手紙について書かれた記事を読みました。
彼はイラクに赴き、わずか19歳で自爆テロによって亡くなりました。
以下の記述は原文からの抜粋です。（訳は私。よって自信なし）

If you are getting this letter then I'm sure you've already heard.
I'm so sorry. But know that I'm safe now.
I'm with God watching over you. I'll always be with you all.
You'll know when I'm around because you'll feel me.
I wanna tell you all some special memories I'll always hold on too. ...(snip)

もしあなた達がこの手紙を受け取ったなら、きっともう既に聞いているんでしょう。
本当にごめんなさい。　でも、今は安全だから。
僕はあなた達を見守りながら神と共にあります。　いつもみんなと一緒にいるよ。
あなた達は僕を感じることができるだろうから、僕がそばにいる時が分かるよ。
僕がこれからも抱き続けるだろうとっておきの想い出をみんなに伝えておきたい。　（中略）

....I thank god everday (*) for blessing me with such an amazing family.
You all mean the world to me. I hope I've made you all proud.
I love you all with all of my heart and please don't be sad, just know that I made it to heaven before you and I'll see you all again.
Your Loving son/Brother, ....

こんなにも素晴らしい家族という祝福を僕に与えてくれた神に感謝します。
みんなは僕にとって世界そのものです。　どうかみんなが僕を誇りに思ってくれますように。
心の底からみんなが好きだよ、だから悲しまないで。　僕は先に天国にたどり着いたんだよ、それにまたみんなに会えるよ。それをただわかって欲しい。
あなたの愛する息子・兄弟より ・・・

Putting himself in the middle of the battlefield, he must have thought anything could happen to him.
I can't stop tears flowing down every time I read this.
I can't imagine whatever the circumstances that forced him to write this kind of letter were like.
And I can't tolerate such terrible situations.
I can't help being surprised by his mental strength, and therefore I can believe his last words and his God.
However, I can never believe a kind of God that orders someone to kill others or oneself and that some people who really order it believe.
I think God certainly exists, but usually, God only looks our stupid acts.
What orders you to kill is not the voice of heaven but only human's voice.

戦場の真っ只中に身を置いて、彼は自分に何が起こってもおかしくないと思ったに違いない。
この記事を読むたびに、涙がこぼれるのを止められない。
こんな手紙を書かざるを得なかった状況が一体どんなだったのか想像もできない。
そしてこんな酷い状況、我慢できない。
彼の精神的な強さに驚かざるを得ない。そしてだからこそ、彼の最後の言葉と彼の神なら信じられる。
でも、誰かに他人を、もしくは自分自身を殺すよう命じるような、そしてそれを実際に命じる一部の人達が信じるような神は絶対に信じられない。
神は確かに存在すると思うけど、大抵は私達の愚かな行為を見てるだけ。
殺せと命じるものは、神の声なんかではなく人間の声にすぎない。

There's one proverb.

ある諺があります。

Wise men learn by other men's mistakes, fools by their own.

       　　　－ 愚者は経験に学び、賢者は歴史に学ぶ －

I wonder what we have learned up to now.
I'm so sad to think why we can't learn without losing something irreplaceable - someone of my family, my lover, my friend, my arm, my foot, my eye, my future or ... my life.

私達は今まで何を学んできたんだろう？
何故、かけがえのない何か - 家族の誰かや恋人、友達、自分の腕や脚、目、未来、あるいは命 - を失うことなしには学べないんだろうと思うと悲しい。

(*) ： 'everday' は 'everyday' の単なるタイプミスだと思います。 『毎日神に感謝します』
'But know that I'm safe now.' というのも、家族が手紙を受け取った時点を現在としているわけだから、『今はまだ無事だよ』 というのではなく 『（天国にいるから）もう安全だよ』 と言いたいんだと思うと胸が痛い・・・。

この記事は、『Newsweek』 で取り上げられていた手紙の一つを、ある人が mixi のコミュで紹介したものです。
いつどこで何が起きてもおかしくない状況で、こんな風に家族を気遣ったり、神に感謝したり何て、私には絶対無理。
自分の運命を嘆いて、その不満を撒き散らす事で、少しでも落ち着こうとする。絶対。
（今でもたまにそういう事をしてるし・・・）
こんな風に、どんな苦境にも負けない精神的な強さを与えることこそが、神の力であり奇跡なんじゃないの？
人間を道徳的・倫理的に導き育てることこそが、宗教の存在意義なんじゃないの？
何処かの過激派だけを言ってるんじゃなくて、正義の名の下に兵士を戦場に送り出す誰かも同じ。
こうしてただ 『テロも戦争も嫌なの』 と書き綴るのは単なるきれい事だとわかってる。
でも、一人がそう思うだけでなく、世界中で声に出して叫べば、それは現実になるんじゃないかと心の何処かで信じてる。
それとも、これもある種、子供じみた平和ボケ丸出しの宗教なの？
私達があんなに苦労して歴史を学んだのは、受験のためじゃなくて、歴史に学ぶためだったはずなのにね・・・。

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知らなかった・・・

Yesterday, I heard the strange sounds when I was working in my room while leaving the TV on.
I watched the TV as I thought about what it was, then it was the voices of the evening news.
In addition, in English!
It's apparently the bilingual broadcast.
I didn't know that at all because I had watched the another news program almost every day.
Come to think of it, I have forgotten to change the voices of TV from English to Japanese after I recorded 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'.
Well, it made me notice the existence of the bilingual broadcast.
So I think it's good.

昨日、TVをつけっ放しにしながら部屋で仕事をしていたら、聞き慣れない音がしました。
何かと思ってTVを見てみると、夕方のニュースの声でした。
しかも英語の！
どうやら二カ国語放送みたいです。
いつもは別のニュース番組を見てたから、全然知らなかったわ。
そういえば、『ハリーポッターとアズガバンの囚人』を見てからずっと、英語から日本語に切り替えるのを忘れてた。
まぁ、おかげで二カ国語放送の存在に気付いたんだから良しとしましょう。

One of my mottoes of learning English is to spend as less money as possible.
Because it's only one of my hobbies.
I had thought if I watched the news programs in English, I needed to be a dues-paying member of such as satellite-TV provider.
I'm wondering, am I the only one who didn't know such a thing?

私の英語学習のモットーの一つは、できるだけお金をかけないことです。
だって趣味の一つにすぎないからね。
英語でニュースを見るには、衛星放送なんかの有料会員にならなきゃいけないと思ってたけど
もしかして、そんなことも知らないのは私だけ？

Anyway, the evening news is the program of Mainichi Broadcasting System that is affiliated with Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc.
So I guess that you can hear same news in English at any program of the broadcasting company that is affiliated with TBS.
Needless to say, the service of bilingual broadcast is limited to national news except local news.
Foreign announcers of this program naturally speak so excellent English.
Moreover, I can read Japanese captions, so even I can understand easier.
If you're interested in current English, I think it's worth watching.
Because it's free!

とにかく、その夕方のニュースは東京放送（TBS）系列である毎日放送の番組です。
だからTBS系列の放送会社の番組ならどれでも、同じニュースを英語で聴くことができるんじゃないかな。
言うまでもなく、二カ国語放送のサービスはローカルニュース以外の全国のニュースに限られます。
この番組の外国人アナウンサーの英語は、当たり前ですがとってもきれい。
さらに日本語のスーパーを読むこともできるので、私でもわかりやすかったです。
時事英語に興味のある人なら、見る価値はあると思いますよ。
だってタダだもん♪ =＾-＾=

以前にも思ったんだけど、『TVの音声を切り替える』 ってどう書けばいいの？
まぁ、いずれわかる日が来るかも・・・？
二カ国語放送してるイヴニングニュースの英語、アメリカ英語なのかイギリス英語なのか、私には全くわからないんですが、とっても聴き取りやすいです。
間の取り方がすんごい不自然ですが・・・。
（原稿はほとんどなしの、ほぼ同時通訳状態なんだと思います。特に街角インタビュー！）
改めてTVの番組表を見てみると、二カ国語放送って少ない！
特にニュースの二カ国語放送って大変そうだもんね。
がんばって続けてください。 m(__)m ＞TBS

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